Estimated Direct Medical Cost of Osteoporosis in Saudi Arabia: A Single-Center Retrospective Cost Analysis

Bander Balkhi, Ahmed Alghamdi, Sulaiman Alqusair, Bader Alotaibi, Yazed AlRuthia, Hisham Alsanawi, Ahmad Bin Nasser and Mona A. Fouda
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Bander Balkhi: Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Alghamdi: Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Sulaiman Alqusair: College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Bader Alotaibi: College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Yazed AlRuthia: Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Hisham Alsanawi: Department of Orthopedics, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Ahmad Bin Nasser: Department of Orthopedics, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Mona A. Fouda: Department of Medicine, Endocrinology Division, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-10

Abstract: Osteoporosis and its complications are a major health concern in Saudi Arabia, and the prevalence of osteoporosis is on the rise. The aim of this study was to estimate the direct healthcare cost for patients with osteoporosis. A retrospective study was carried out among adult patients with osteoporosis in a teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia. A bottom-up approach was conducted to estimate the healthcare resources used and the total direct medical cost for the treatment of osteoporosis and related fractures. The study included 511 osteoporosis patients, 93% of whom were female. The average (SD) age was 68.5 years (10.2). The total mean direct medical costs for patients without fractures were USD 975.77 per person per year (PPPY), and for those with osteoporotic fractures, the total direct costs were USD 9716.26 PPPY, of which 56% of the costs were attributable to surgery procedures. Prior to fractures, the main cost components were medication, representing 61%, and physician visits, representing 18%. The findings of this study indicated the economic impact of osteoporosis and related fractures. With the aging population in Saudi Arabia, the burden of disease could increase significantly, which highlights the need for effective prevention strategies to minimize the economic burden of osteoporosis.

Keywords: economic burden; costs; osteoporosis; Saudi Arabia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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